Method and apparatus for operating a motor with optimized efficiency

Abstract

A system and method can include a motor subject to a change in efficiency as a function of temperature and a motor cooling system. The motor cooling system can be driven to minimize the sum of energy consumed by the motor and the cooling system.

1 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A system for cooling a motor, comprising:
 a motor cooling apparatus configured to cool a motor; and   a controller including an interface configured to receive a parameter corresponding to, or predictive of, a motor operational value, the controller being operatively coupled to the motor cooling apparatus and configured to drive the motor cooling apparatus to minimize a sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus.   
     
     
         98 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the motor operational value comprises a motor temperature. 
     
     
         99 . The system for operating a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the motor operational value comprises one or more of motor work output, motor torque output, motor torque demand, motor rotational velocity, demanded motor rotational velocity, motor voltage, motor current, motor drive frequency, battery charge, power availability, or an incremental energy cost. 
     
     
         100 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the motor cooling apparatus includes one or more of a fan, a circulating liquid, a phase-change fluid, a vapor-compression refrigeration device, a vapor-absorption refrigeration device, Peltier-effect device, or a caloric effect device. 
     
     
         101 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the controller further includes one or more relays, solenoids, valves, or a combination thereof configured to actuate the motor cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         102 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , further comprising:
 a sensor operatively coupled to the interface and configured to detect the parameter corresponding to or predictive of the motor temperature.   
     
     
         103 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 102 , wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor configured to measure one or more of motor temperature, motor winding temperature, or ambient temperature. 
     
     
         104 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 102 , wherein the motor temperature corresponds to the motor winding temperature. 
     
     
         105 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 102 , wherein the sensor includes one or more of a motor torque output sensor, a motor torque demand sensor, a motor rotational velocity sensor, demanded motor rotational velocity sensor, a motor voltage sensor, a motor current sensor, a motor drive frequency sensor, or a battery charge sensor. 
     
     
         106 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the interface includes an interface configured to receive a signal or data. 
     
     
         107 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 106 , wherein the interface is configured to receive a signal or data from a motor control system. 
     
     
         108 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the interface is configured to receive one or more of a future motor torque demand or a future demanded motor rotational velocity. 
     
     
         109 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the interface is configured to receive at least two parameters and the controller is configured to drive the motor cooling apparatus responsive to the at least two parameters. 
     
     
         110 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the controller is programmable. 
     
     
         111 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the controller is configured to allow short term non-minimal sum of energy consumption. 
     
     
         112 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the controller is configured to increase energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus in anticipation of future motor use. 
     
     
         113 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus is not directly proportional to motor rotational velocity. 
     
     
         114 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus is not directly proportional to temperature. 
     
     
         115 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus energy consumption is minimized compared to other available motor cooling apparatus energy consumptions. 
     
     
         116 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 113 , wherein the available motor cooling apparatus energy consumptions comprise a plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         117 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the controller is configured to select from among a plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings; and
 wherein driving the motor cooling apparatus to minimize the sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus includes selecting from among the plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings.   
     
     
         118 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 117 , wherein the controller is configured to periodically select from among the plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         119 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 118 , wherein the controller is configured to minimize the sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus by selecting a schedule for switching between two or more discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         120 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus is minimized when combined energy consumed by the motor and the motor cooling apparatus is less than combined energy consumed by the motor and the motor cooling apparatus under conditions of the motor cooling apparatus being driven proportional to motor rotational velocity or the motor cooling apparatus being thermostatically controlled to be on or off. 
     
     
         121 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the sum of energy consumed by the motor plus energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus is minimized when combined energy consumed by the motor and the motor cooling apparatus is within a tolerance of a prospective minimum consumption to achieve the non-zero motive energy output. 
     
     
         122 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 121 , wherein the tolerance is 10%. 
     
     
         123 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , further comprising a motor. 
     
     
         124 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the motor is an electric motor. 
     
     
         125 . The system for cooling a motor of  claim 97 , wherein the motor is an AC induction motor, a universal motor, an AC synchronous motor, a DC stepper motor, a DC brushless motor, a DC brushed motor, or a pancake DC motor. 
     
     
         126 - 155 . (canceled) 
     
     
         156 . A computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor, comprising:
 receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of an operational value of a motor; and   determining with a computer at least a second parameter corresponding to driving a motor cooling apparatus as a function of the first parameter;   wherein the second parameter is selected to minimize a combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the operational value.   
     
     
         157 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the motor cooling apparatus includes one or more of a fan, a circulating liquid, a phase-change fluid, a vapor-compression refrigeration device, a vapor-absorption refrigeration device, Peltier-effect device, or a caloric effect device. 
     
     
         158 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes operating a sensor. 
     
     
         159 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 158 , wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor configured to measure one or more of motor temperature, motor winding temperature, or ambient temperature. 
     
     
         160 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 158 , wherein the sensor measures a motor winding temperature. 
     
     
         161 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 158 , wherein the sensor includes one or more of a motor work output sensor, a motor torque output sensor, a motor torque demand sensor, a motor rotational velocity sensor, demanded motor rotational velocity sensor, a motor voltage sensor, a motor current sensor, a motor drive frequency sensor, or a battery charge sensor. 
     
     
         162 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving signal or data across an interface. 
     
     
         163 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving a signal or data from a motor control system. 
     
     
         164 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving one or more of motor temperature, motor winding temperature, or ambient temperature. 
     
     
         165 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving one or more of a motor work output, motor torque output, a motor torque demand, a motor rotational velocity, a demanded motor rotational velocity, a motor drive voltage, a motor current, a motor drive frequency, or a battery charge. 
     
     
         166 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving one or more of a future motor torque demand or a future demanded motor rotational velocity. 
     
     
         167 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein receiving at least a first parameter corresponding to or predictive of a motor operational value includes receiving at least two first parameters; and
 wherein determining with a computer at least a second parameter corresponding to driving a motor cooling apparatus includes determining the second parameter as a function of the at least the two first parameters.   
     
     
         168 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , further comprising:
 receiving programming to select an operation mode.   
     
     
         169 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein determining with a computer at least a second parameter corresponding to driving a motor cooling apparatus includes allowing a short term non-minimal combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the temperature. 
     
     
         170 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , further comprising:
 determining a temporary second parameter corresponding to increased energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus in anticipation of future motor use.   
     
     
         171 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the second parameter is not directly proportional to motor rotational velocity. 
     
     
         172 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the second parameter is not directly proportional to temperature. 
     
     
         173 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the temperature is minimized compared to other available second parameters. 
     
     
         174 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 173 , wherein the available second parameters comprise a plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         175 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein determining with a computer at least a second parameter corresponding to driving a motor cooling apparatus includes selecting from among a plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         176 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 174 , wherein selecting from among a plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings includes periodically selecting from among the plurality of discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         177 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the second parameter includes a schedule for switching between two or more discrete motor cooling apparatus settings. 
     
     
         178 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the temperature is minimized when the combined energy lost by motor inefficiency and the energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus is less than the combined energy lost by motor inefficiency and the energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus under conditions of the second parameter being proportional to motor rotational velocity or the second parameter corresponding to a thermostatic function of the first parameter. 
     
     
         179 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the temperature is minimized when combination of energy consumed by the motor cooling apparatus plus energy lost by motor inefficiency corresponding to the temperature is within a tolerance of a prospective minimum consumption to achieve a non-zero motive energy output. 
     
     
         180 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 178 , wherein the tolerance is 10%. 
     
     
         181 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the motor is an electric motor. 
     
     
         182 . The computer method for determining optimized cooling of a motor of  claim 156 , wherein the motor is an AC induction motor, a universal motor, an AC synchronous motor, a DC stepper motor, a DC brushless motor, a DC brushed motor, or a pancake DC motor. 
     
     
         183 - 209 . (canceled)